Polaris (An Alex Benedict Novel)

_Polaris_ is another excellent installment in the Alex Benedict series, a series which I believe in November of 2008 will be a four volume series. Though later books in the series reference very briefly earlier adventures, the books can be read out of order or as stand-alones (I read the third volume for instance first and only later bought and read the first and second novels). Just as in the other novels, the two main characters in _Polaris_ are Alex Benedict and Chase Kolpath, two dealers in antiquities, a two-person firm (Alex is the owner and boss and Chase is his sole employee) that generally keeps its eyes and ears open for new objects to sell to their wealthy clientele, private individuals who want a piece commemorating some great historical person, culture, ship, or event. The two get wind of some historical artifacts coming up for sale, artifacts connected to a famous ship known as _Polaris_. Sixty years ago it accompanied a scientific expedition to watch the collision of two stars. Unlike the other ships present it that extremely rare stellar event, it was there for pleasure; the _Polaris_ was a luxury craft sent out by the Department of Planetary Survey and Astronomical Research with a pilot and six passengers. These six passengers were famous people at the time (and still famous in the novel's present), leading scientists, media personalities, and captains of industry. There to view a magnificent and awe-inspiring natural event, the ship failed to accompany the research vessels when they jumped back home. Not responding to hails, a rescue mission was sent, Survey first diverting a nearby freighter. The crew of the ship found when they arrived _Polaris_ adrift in space. They boarded the vessel and found no evidence of damage, the ships Artificial Intelligence turned off but still functional (and unaware of any problems). The pressure suits and the ship's lander were still present, and the way personal items were present, books still open to where they were being read, food left on the table, seemed to indicate that the crew had left suddenly. Where had they gone though? No one was found on the ship, no blood, no signs of any struggle. An ever expanding rescue mission which eventually included many dozens of Survey, military, and even private vessels found nothing. No bodies adrift in the vacuum of space, no place where they might have set down, nothing. They were never found and years later, proclaimed dead. The disappearance of the pilot and six passengers was one of the most romantic mysteries of Alex's and Chase's time, a topic subject to some of the wildest speculations and conjectures about aliens, space diseases, ghosts, or stranger theories. Whatever the cause, Alex and Chase were delighted to find that they had an opportunity to purchase from Survey select items connected with the passengers and crew and them offer them up for sale to their own grateful and wealthy clientele. Unfortunately, all does not go as

I've read most of Jack McDevitt's work, and this is one of my favorites, second only to "A Talent for War", which has to be McDevitt's best novel. Polaris is a mystery story first, and a science fiction story second. Those who are looking for a lot of science may be disappointed, but those who are looking for a good mystery will be thrilled. The main characters of "A Talent for War", Alex and Chase, return to investigate the space ship Polaris. Polaris was sent to investiage a stellar collision, and all went as planned until the return of the Polaris. The captain's last words were "Departure Imminent", and neither the captain nor crew were heard from again. The ship was found empty and adrift. Alex and Chase enter the picture when the possessions of the missing captain and crew are auctioned off. The story is sligly less grand than "A Talent For War", but in my opinion, it's every bit as complex, and will keep you guessing through most of the story. The pace is slower than McDevitt's other books, but it is also more complex and intellectual. Altogehter, I highly recommend it, and I'm getting ready to order the next novel in the series, "Seeker".

"Polaris" is a crisp, snappy, smart mystery set in a distant future in which humanity, though buttressed by advanced technology, is still a humanity that thinks and acts like any humanity played out in any drama in human history. There have been some unflattering reviews of this book posted, but I really enjoyed "Polaris". The characters grow organically from the story: sometimes they are happy and indulgent; sometimes they are wistful and brooding, but their behaviors are consistent and real such that the story would still work even if it wasn't set in a distant future. Between their lines of dialog are subtle yearnings that are not central to the plot, but nevertheless help them evolve into full four-dimensional characters who allow the reader to easily suspend disbelief and become immersed into the story. The science-fiction mystery, perhaps best exemplified by Isaac Asimov's Robot novels, is a tricky genre: mysteries are character driven, so the "science" in the science-fiction must set the tableau without overpowering the characters. Jack McDevitt succeeds in this regard, and so joins Isaac Asimov as a master of the genre. "Polaris" is a sequel to "A Talent for War", though both books can stand alone. Again, one thinks of Asimov's "Caves of Steel" and "The Naked Sun", two simple mysteries that fit into a vast universe of Empire and Foundation novels. McDevitt's novels do the same, artfully focused upon the here and now while defining a much larger universe. With "Seeker" next in the series, it will be interesting to see if McDevitt can develop his "Alex Benedict" novels toward the same quality and scope of his "Priscilla Hutchins" novels.

I may be prejudiced in that I have talked with Jack McDevitt for some time. He is a genuinely warm human being with a zeal for space, scientific discovery and belief in the ultimate success of our race in solving grand problems. He knows that not everyone will be pleased with his methodical, elaborate and sensitive writings and that does not bother him. He writes what he must and so be it. In the past I have criticized his work for having too many minor characters but in this case they all "fit". We return with the heroes of A TALENT FOR WAR, one of the best books (not just sci-fi) every written. Alex and Chase, one-time lovers, are high-end antique dealers who get ensnared in a sixty year-old mystery. The spaceship POLARIS flew with a stellar crew to observe the meeting of a star and quasar. The crew simply disappeared causing galaxy wide upheavals that lasted for years. The mystery was never explained. A Startrek-like cult (hilariously described down to convention goers) has sprung up around this event even with numerous explanations. Chase gets a chance to auction items from the Polaris and that's when the fun begins. This is a grand mystery, replete with chase scenes, double crossing, intrigue and pathos. In fact, add a love interest and it would make a great movie. One clue leads to the next and all the while the author muses on subjects varying from the meaning of death, religion, immortality, the meaning of consciousness and the problem of affluency. In the end, the pair discover the truth which leads to an explosive if perhaps not final conclusion. As in all McDevitt novels, the characters are intelligent, rational, and slightly self-deprecating. The first person narrative by Chase was superb. McDevitt excels in portraying strong, intelligent females and this is no exception. This is not WAR of the WORLDS or punk scifi or the weird worlds of PK Dick but it is vintage McDevitt and it is good.

In the far distant future, a dwarf star is crashing into the Delta Karpis System so a fleet of ships leave when the danger becomes too great. One vessel the Polaris carries six dignitaries, but instead of departing the danger zone, it remains inside the doomed system. Later a spaceship investigates only to find the Polaris but without the six passengers or the pilot. A century later on the planet Rimway, an exhibit of the Polaris that includes recovered objects from the doomed ship is about to go on display or sold off to antique dealers. Alex Benedict and his associate Chase Kalpath buy several of the items before evacuating the building due to a bomb scare that turns real when an explosion destroy the edifice and all it contained. The only Polaris artifacts left are those Alex purchased. From that moment, several attempts to kill Alex and Chase occur while someone is obviously seeking a particular Polaris memento. The beleaguered partners conclude that the remains must include evidence of what happened to the vanished seven. They plan to learn what that is and who wants them dead. Although Polaris occurs in the future in outer space thus providing a science fiction background, the story line is a classic style investigative tale with Alex serving as an amateur sleuth Holmes and Chase as Watson. The likeable duo hooks readers as they struggle to find out what is going on and why. Though a stand alone novel, the dynamic duo sleuthing in an outer space setting deserves a series so hopefully Jack McDevitt receives a Hugo nomination to encourage him to bring back Alex and Chase for more Sherlockian not of this earth adventures. Harriet Klausner